Zika Virus Update: CDC Collects Semen Samples From Men Who Had Zika

There have been recent reports that the Centers for Disease Prevention is collecting semen samples from men across the United States to figure out how long the frightening Zika virus can last in bodily fluid.

According to CBS Philly, since the virus has been discovered to be transmitted sexually, and that it can stay in semen after the man manifests symptoms such as fever, rash, and eye itchiness. This means that if a man has the virus in his semen, the moment he has sexual contact with a woman, and if the woman gets pregnant, there is a big possibility that the baby will be born with neurological birth defects.

The report also said that the CDC hopes to bring about 210 men who have already had Zika to donate their semen for testing. The CDC has already collected semen from 40 men infected with Zika after months of persuasion.

These men are asked to make multiple donations in their homes every other week in the course of six months after their having Zika. They will be given a $50 multi-use gift card as compensation.

Gizmodo.com has also reported that a courier will pick up the donations and deliver the samples directly to the CDC lab in Fort Collins, Colorado. Dr. Paul Mead, an epidemiologist in charge of the study said that it makes him happy to see patients are open about volunteering their specimens for study. "They seem to understand the importance of the study," Mead told CNN.

Meanwhile, CNN has also reported that there have been over a thousand cases of Zika virus in the United States and it is not expected to die down anytime soon. Among those cases, 14 were found to be transmitted sexually, according to CDC. However, the organization thinks the actual number could be much higher.

The CDC is now recommending men who have been infected by the dreaded Zika virus to use a condom or not have any sexual contact for six months after their illness. The advice is based on the study of only 3 men who had been infected by the virus which prompted the CDC to do the current larger study.